The Speakeasy

This week on The Speakeasy, host Damon Boelte is joined in the studio by Germán González, one of the most celebrated working tequileros. Master Distiller Germán González is the great grandson of General Manuel González, former President of México between 1880 - 1884. In the late 1970s Germán's father, Guillermo Gonzalez Diaz Lombardo, founder of La Gonzaleña, launched what would become the first ultra-premium tequila imported into the United States, Chinaco. Germán worked closely with his father and learned how to handcraft tequila using traditional techniques. After years serving as Chinaco's master distiller, Germán left the company to launch his own brand, like his father before him. T1 debuted at San Diego’s Spirits of Mexico Festival in 2009 to an outstanding reception from critics, aficionados, and industry experts. Germán soon expanded his T1 offerings to include four unique and highly-touted tequilas, which include two blancos, the Ultra Fino and Selecto, a reposado Excepcional, and an anejo Estelar. F. Paul Pacult’s Spirits Journal named T1 the #1 tequila of 2012.

TJ Lynch of Mother's Ruin joins Damon Boelte for a brand new episode of The Speakeasy. Mother's Ruin is "the perfect blend of your favorite local bar and cocktail temple." Tune in as TJ and Damon chat about everything from stoner food to slushies.

Bartender William Elliot of Maison Premiere joins Damon Boelte for the Speakeasy today! Tune in for a casual conversation between cocktail comrades as the two trade tales and tips for all beverage enthusiasts!

Listen to a brand new episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte is joined by Courtenay Greenleaf, Mezcalier, beverage director of Rosa Mexicano, bartender at Masa y Agave bartender. Together they discuss all things agave, the intricacies of mezcal and her work as a beverage director and bartender!

On this week's episode of The Speakeasy, Damon is joined in the studio by Katie Parla, co-author of Tasting Rome: Fresh Flavors and Forgotten Recipes from an Ancient City. Tune in to hear them discuss her book release, Italian cocktails, how Italians drink compared to Americans, and maintaining sanity while being on the road and traveling.

Nicholas Bennett, the Head Bartender for Porchlight in Manhattan joins Damon Boelte for a fun and conversational episode of The Speakeasy.

Tune in to a brand new episode of The Speakeasy as Damon Boelte welcomes the brilliant women of Llama Inn for a conversation on Peruvian cocktails and more! He's joined by Lynette Marrero, Jessica Gonzalez & Rebecca Applebaum. Learn more about the culture of Peru, Pisco, and more on an information packed episode!

This week on The Speakeasy, Damon Boelte welcomes back Leslie Pariseau and Talia Baiocchi, the talented duo behind Spritz: Italy's Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, with Recipes. From Milan to Los Angeles, Venice to New York, the spritz—Italy’s bitter and bubbly aperitivo cocktail—has become synonymous with a leisurely, convivial golden hour. But the spritz is more than just an early evening cocktail—it’s a style of drinking. In Spritz, Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau trace the drink’s origins to ancient Rome, uncover its unlikely history and culture, explore the evolution of aperitivo throughout Northern Italy, and document the spritz’s revival around the world. From regional classics to modern variations, Spritz includes dozens of recipes from some of America’s most lauded bartenders, a guide to building a spritz bar, and a collection of food recipes for classic Italian snacks to pair alongside. Talia Baiocchi is the editor-in-chief of Punch and the author of James Beard Award–nominated Sherry. She has written for Bon Appétit, Saveur, and many more. She lives in Brooklyn. Leslie Pariseau is the former deputy editor of Punch. She has written for the New York Times, GQ, Esquire, and Saveur. She lives in Brooklyn.

Tune in to this week's episode of The Speakeasy as host Damon Boelte is joined by Kat Kinsman, editor at large and former editor in chief of Tasting Table and a frequent public speaker on the topics of food and mental health. She is a former writer and editor for CNN.com, where she was nominated for the James Beard Broadcast Award in the TV Segment category and won the 2011 EPPY Best Food Website for CNN's Eatocracy. After she published a personal essay on her struggles with anxiety for CNN Living, people came out of the woodwork to share their own experiences and it felt like the beginning of a conversation that needed to happen. In her upcoming nonfiction book, "Hi, Anxiety," she'll be sharing her own stories and speaking with people from all different cultures, races, faiths, economic circumstances, regions and ages about their experiences with anxiety, and how they're fighting back. Though the book is due out from Harper Collins imprint Dey Street Books on April 26, 2016.

On this week's episode of The Speakeasy, Damon catches up with Giuseppe Gonzalez, whose bartending credits include Golden Cadillac, PKNY and Dutch Kills. Giuseppe now runs Suffolk Arms in New York's Lower East Side, which features an English pub exterior but a distinctly New York feel inside.